Lakers Snap Knicks 9-Game Win Streak

New York has an absolute ace in Brunson, but they need to shore up their bullpen for the stretch run... Go Get Brogdon

Final Score: Knicks 105 - Lakers 113
Record: 32-18

The joyride sure was fun, huh? 

And it lasted a lot longer than most of us expected! Nine games, three quarters, four minutes and 35 seconds, to be exact. 

When the Knicks fueled up back on January 17th, even the most optimistic of fans would have been hesitant to predict New York would ride out for two-and-a-half weeks.

Yet, the 'Bockers entered Saturday's showdown with the Lakers on a nine-game winning streak and even carried a six-point lead into the fourth quarter.   

After LA made a run to start the final frame, Donte DiVincenzo drained a three-pointer to give New York a 96-94 lead with 7:25 remaining in regulation. 

However, as it turns out, Jalen Brunson and his Band of Plunky Bruisers had finally run out of gas. 

Remarkably, the Knicks would not score another point for more than six minutes - until there were just 40 seconds left on the clock - as New York was clearly running on empty. 

Credit the Lakers, who successfully implemented an obvious game plan: Make someone/anyone not named Brunson beat you. "We wanted to get the ball out of Jalen's hands with consistent double teams," coach Darvin Ham told reporters after the game. "Our big guys blitzing off traditional pick-and-rolls, then when he would try to get in space, they would set the small-small screens, guys coming back off the small. Attention to detail."

LeBron James acknowledged that stopping Brunson was imperative. "Jalen is playing at more than an All-Star level this year, so we know he's the head of the snake. But we just tried to wear him down throughout and in the fourth quarter," said James. "He can beat you––we've seen that in the fourth quarter this year in a lot of the Knicks games where he's erupted. So we tried to keep multiple bodies, keep changing the defense, don't show him the same pitch, and I think that helped out a lot." 

We've seen teams employ several different approaches in an attempt to slow down Brunson this season, but the Lakers were blitzing him with two tall defenders nearly every time he touched the ball after passing half-court. 

And with New York playing shorthanded, missing two of their three best players in Julius Randle (shoulder) and OG Anunoby (elbow), as well as backup shooting guard Quentin Grimes (knee), the Knicks didn't have enough scorers to make the Lakers pay. Right from the very start of the contest, it was apparent they were going to dare Josh Hart and Precious Achiuwa to take long jumpers, as both players missed wide-open three-pointers within the first minute of the first quarter. The Knicks finished the game shooting just 10-of-35 (28.6%) from behind the arc. 

Somehow, despite being double-teamed on 30+ possessions throughout the night, Brunson found a way to finish with 36 points, shooting 15-of-31 from the field and 5-of-6 from the foul line. He also dished out a game-high ten assists and grabbed six rebounds. For JB to post those all-around numbers despite the relentless pressure he faced is a testament to his greatness. 

However, in many respects, this was a worst-case scenario for the Knicks: Brunson battled through 45 grueling minutes but didn't have a win to show for it. 

With the euphoria of the winning streak wearing off, if we zoom out and look at the big picture, the mounting wear-and-tear on Brunson is an undeniable concern. 

Over New York's past five games, he is averaging 38.4 minutes a night. And some player's NBA minutes are tougher than others. We know the type of responsibility Brunson shoulders whenever he is on the floor. He's the team's offensive engine, especially with Randle sidelined, and JB is constantly sacrificing his body and attempting to take charges on the defensive end.

On the season, Brunson has logged over 1,700 minutes, the third most in the entire league.  

Last night vs. the Lakers, coach Tom Thibodeau went with a seven-man rotation. Four of the five starters played more than 40 minutes. Isaiah Hartenstein likely would have as well, but he got into foul trouble. 

We've credited Thibs for instilling a gritty, winning culture in New York (he joined Pat Riley and Red Holtzman as just the third coach in Knicks franchise history to preside over three separate winning streaks of at least nine games), but this is the downside of his maniacal hunger to win regular season games at all costs. 

Yes, the roster is ravaged by injuries, but it's too early in the season to shorten the rotation to this extent. Malachi Flynn has shown some promising flashes when given opportunities. He should see at least 12 minutes a night, especially with Grimes unavailable. And considering the Knicks' inability to space the floor, it's worth dusting off Evan Fournier in case he can provide a spark. Let Jacob Toppin or Charlie Brown Jr. bring some youthful energy onto the floor.

With Brunson's emergence as an elite superstar and the addition of OG, the Knicks team is now a legit contender. Consequently, it's imperative that the coaching staff and front office begin thinking ahead toward April and May. That means keeping key pieces, especially Brunson, as fresh as possible.